Cornerback Jaylen Watson is not expected to play when the Los Angeles Rams face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4. The defensive back was carted off of the field on Sunday against the Denver Broncos when he dislocated his shoulder. Rams head coach Sean McVay addressed Watson and other injuries during his Monday press conference.
“He’ll probably be out for this week, and (it’s) something that we’ll see if we can kind of get him strengthened and harness it,” McVay said. “It’s something that he’s dealt
with before, but not something that we’ve discussed, IR.”
Watson signed a three-year, $51 million contract this offseason after playing his first four years in the league with the Chiefs. With Watson playing in the first half of the game, the Rams held the Broncos to 67 total yards and zero points. In the second half, with Watson on the sideline and his arm in a sling, the Broncos gained 197 yards and scored 30 points.
Tight ends Colby Parkinson and Terrance Fergusonwere also injured during Sunday’s loss to the Broncos. McVay said that Parkinson is day-to-day with a AC joint sprain in his shoulder.
“We’ll see what that looks like for him,” McVay said.
Ferguson has a medial ankle sprain and likely will miss Sunday’s game against the Eagles, per reports. This was an aggravation of an existing injury. Parkinson has played 61 percent of the team’s offensive snaps this season, and Ferguson 43 percent. The Rams’ run game suffered in the second half with Parkinson and Ferguson banged up.
One interesting wrinkle to the tight end injuries is whether or not it could mean the debut of second-round rookie Max Klare this week. Klare has been a healthy scratch in all three games, but if Ferguson and Parkinson are both ruled out then he could be the next-best option for McVay’s 13 personnel.
Puka Nacua, Kamren Kinchens updates:
Two-time All-Pro WR Puka Nacua has missed the past two games with a lingering hip/groin issue, but McVay has hope that he will return to the team against the Eagles.
“We’ll continue to see,” McVay said. “But if he is able to progress the way that we hope, there’s optimism that he’ll be able to play this week.”
The Rams sorely miss Puka’s presence on offense.
Finally, Kamren Kinchens continues to rehabilitate his hamstring injury suffered during the 49ers game in Week 1 and his status is the one we don’t have any new information on from the coach.
